The route begins in Melides located in the coastline close to the Atlantic Ocean. The natural landscape is made up of moors occupied by pine and eucalyptus forests and cultivated agricultural plains dedicated essentially with rice. The Melides Lagoon is an good example of the existent natural heritage due to the richness of fauna and flora species. Here you can watch birds, go canoeing and do walking tours. Regarding the cultural and built heritage it is recommend a visit to the Dólmen da Pedra Branca and to the Necrópole de cistas das Casas Velhas at Vale Figueira.
Going north begins the parish of Carvalhal which has a coastline with 30 kilometers where you can enjoy numerous beaches.
Its territory is constituted mainly by dunes with bush vegetation and pine forests and salt marshes. Among the marshes and the land area can be seen extensive rice fields and among the dunes sweet potato growing areas.
Part of the dunes and salt marsh ecosystems are part of the Natural Reserve of Sado Estuary given the richness of flora and fauna. The Natural Reserve of Sado Estuary is a wetland with different species of birds such as flamingos that cover the estuary with a blanket of pink in the cooler months and there is an important colony of dolphins (locally known as roazes-corvineiros). Other birds that can be seen more often are the white storks in their nests in church towers and the chimneys of the houses.
Despite the rich natural and landscape heritage in this region there are some archaeological, built and cultural heritage such as the Roman Ruins of Tróia, the port built in traditional wooden stakes – palafitte port of Carrasqueira –, the traditional thatched huts of Carrasqueira; and the Rice Museum in Comporta.
The route ends in Setúbal, a city rich in natural landscapes embraced by the Sado River and the Arrábida mountain. To get there you need to make the Sado River crossover.
Comments: Section 7